New Trier Suspends 11 Seniors

May 13, 1992|By John Lucadamo and James Hill.

Driven by the desire to get into top colleges, 11 graduating seniors at New Trier High School in Winnetka resorted to cheating in an advanced-placement political science course this spring, school officials said Tuesday.

The 11 students at the nationally renowned school have either been suspended or will be suspended for three to 10 days, according to Principal Dianna Lindsay.

The school took the action after officials determined that one student had stolen a copy of a test before it was administered and that the others had received copies or otherwise learned the exam`s contents, she said.

In interviews with Lindsay and the school`s deans, the 11 male students expressed remorse but explained that their desire to get into prestigious colleges motivated them to cheat, Lindsay said.

The principal said that despite apologizing, the students demonstrated a misguided view of what constitutes competition.

``Competition should be based on the best ability we have and not on an advantage you have and I don`t have,`` she said.

Several of the 11 students will not be permitted to attend graduation ceremonies, but all will receive diplomas, Lindsay said.

The principal refused to identify any of the students, citing confidentiality rules. In addition, none of the colleges the students are to attend next fall will be notified.

The response to the suspensions, according to Lindsay and Timothy Yu, editor of the high school newspaper, was varied.

``A lot of people feel they are not being punished. All they get is a suspension,`` Yu said.

The reaction of parents ran the gamut, Lindsay said. No one condoned cheating, she said, but they do not want ``harsh consequences`` for their kids.

Mike Feinberg, 14, a freshman at New Trier, said he thought the punishment was ``fair enough`` but added, ``I think that only the ones that stole the test should be punished.`` He also said that preventing some of the graduates from attending their commencement was ``a little harsh.``

Lennie Eisner, 15, a sophomore, said the cheating was perhaps understandable because ``there is so much expectation in this school to get good grades.``